Teen Drug Use Down Slightly

The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released the newest results of its annual survey, 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. This year's report was based on responses from nearly 70,000 Americans 12-years-old and older.

Overall, the findings showed slight reductions in teen drug, alcohol, and tobacco use in 2013.

The survey found that teen use (ages 12-17) of all illicit drugs fell slightly from 9.5% in 2012 to 8.8% in 2013. Teen marijuana use in 2013 remained almost unchanged in 2013 (7.1%) from 2012 (7.2%).

Teen alcohol use in the previous month (ages 12-20) also saw a slight reduction in this year's survey, down from 45.8% in 2012 to 43.8% in 2013.

Regarding past month use of tobacco products, the teen usage rate showed a decline in this year's report, down from 8.6% in 2012 to 7.8% in 2013.

Source: SAMSHA
http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2013SummNatFindDetTables/NationalFindings/NSDUHresults2013.htm#tabb.6